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A few weeks ago, former WWF manager The Doctor of Style, Slick was honored as the Wrestler of the Week. During that article one of his biggest superstars during the 1980s-1990s was discussed. That man is now going to be honored as the WOW. From Deepest, Darkest Africa I present you with: The African Dream, Akeem.

Upon his debut in the WWF in 1987, after ten years wandering around smaller wrestling companies, Akeem wrestled under the moniker The One Man Gang. He was brought into the WWF managed by Slick and had some moderate success. He was on the first Survivor Series show, wrestling on Andre the Giant's team against Hulk Hogan's team. He also wrestled in the World Championship tournament at Wrestlemania IV, losing to the Macho Man, Randy Savage in the Semi-Finals.

On top of all that, he rocked a crazy mohawk and had some killer 'skull and cross bones' stiched onto the shoulders of his full-body black jump suit! That'll intimidate. Not to mention his great entrance theme, which has been featured here before, Jive Soul Bro. I couldn't make this stuff up. Anyway, here is a brief clip showing The One Man Gang squashing Reno Riggins. Jesse Ventura's color commentary during the 2-minute match is quality.



Impressive, huh? But that was only the beginning for our WOW. The One Man Gang, as Slick would point out late in 1988, was actually African and wanted to embrace his roots. An episode of WWF Superstars featured a vignette with Mean Gene Okerlund on-location in an American ghetto that is dubbed "The Deepest Darkest Parts Of Africa". This promo also featured "Mean Gean" and tribal African dancers dancing and chanting around a fire. Slick announced from that point on, One Man Gang would be referred to by his new name, Akeem, the African Dream. This vignette received some criticism, as Akeem delivered a promo in which he spoke with an extremely stereotypical black accent and mockingly danced while an African ritual took place in the background. Again, who could make this stuff up. And, again, Slick's song, Jive Soul Bro makes a brief cameo, blaring from Slick's boom box which he carries on his shoulder! That Vince McMahon is one crazy son-of-a-bitch. Anyway, take a look. The clip is about five minutes long, but well worth it. God, 80's wrestling was ridiculous!



Priceless.

Akeem would form a tag team with the Big Boss Man, dubbed the Twin Towers. The Towers would feud with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, which led to Hogan and Savage breaking up prior to Wrestlemania V. Although the Twin Towers never won the tag team titles, they were a force on the tag team scene until they split up in 1990. The split would essentially spell the end for the run of Akeem in the WWF. Akeem would join WCW for the next few years, once again going by The One Man Gang, joining the Dungeon of Doom and winning the United States title in 1995. He has not wrestled consistently since, despite a few appearances for the WWE, including being in the Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 17, again as the One Man Gang.

Despite his change back to the One Man Gang, his roots as Akeem would not go away. In 2008, he made an appearance at a small wrestling card, teaming with Demolition (I know, scary) in a loss. But the highligt occured prior to the match where opponent Todd Sweeney and Akeem engaged in a "strut-off" set to Slick's old theme music, wherein Akeem donned his old hat and the strut he perfected. Keep in mind he lost a lot of weight following a heart attack in 2000. But regardless it is worth checking out:



Akeem currently works as a prison guard at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Despite spending about 28 of his 30 years in wrestling as the One Man Gang, Akeem is how we will remember the WOW for this week. Akeem, you came from Deepest Darkest Africa and somehow brought light into our lives. I salute you.